VANCOUVER - The Vancouver Whitecaps have added another piece to their remodelled backline.

The Major League Soccer club signed defender Pa-Modou Kah on Wednesday, pending the receipt of an international transfer certificate.

The 34-year-old centre back spent the last two seasons with the rival Portland Timbers, starting 47 games in all competitions.

"Kah is an athletic centre back with a wealth of experience, both in MLS and abroad," Whitecaps head coach Carl Robinson said in a statement. "Not only does he bring experience, but also great character, and that will be equally important to our team."

The six-foot-one, 175-pound Kah has played more than 300 professional matches in a career that has included stops in North America, Europe and Asia.

"I'm very excited about this opportunity," said Kah, who was born in Gambia before moving to Norway with his family when he was eight. "Vancouver has a great team that is heading in the right direction and I will do everything I can to help."

The signing comes a week after the Whitecaps added centre back Diego Rodriguez on loan with a transfer option from his club in Uruguay. The club also selected fellow centre back Tim Parker with the 13th pick in the recent MLS SuperDraft.

Vancouver added Kendall Waston as an anchor in the middle defence partway through last season, but recently bid farewell to veteran Andy O'Brien after the two sides failed to agree on a new contract.